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Statement on U.S. Senate Activity on H.R. 3 by American Public Transportation
Association President William W. Millar
May 11 , 2005
Contacts: Virginia Miller (202) 496-4816 vmiller@apta.com
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In Adobe PDF Format)
TThe American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
and its more than 1,500 members are pleased that the U.S. Senate is moving
forward this week on critical surface transportation legislation (H.R.
3).
We strongly support the increased funding for transit
and highway investment in the pending Inhofe substitute amendment and
are working with our coalition partners in support of its passage.
APTA calls on the Senate to pass the full bill as soon
as possible. Congestion is robbing Americans of valuable time. Just this
week, the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) released its annual congestion
report which found that the average annual delay per traveler has climbed
from 16 hours in 1982 to 47 hours in 2003.
The TTI study showed that public transportation was important
to alleviate congestion. In 2003, public transportation saved peak period
commuters on our roads 1.1 billion hours in travel time. Without public
transportation, travel delays would have increased by 27 percent to 60
hours per traveler.
This bill will create good-paying American jobs and give
the economy a well-needed boost. With the construction season now upon
us, we don't need anymore delays.
The current TEA 21 legislation has been extended six
times and expires May 31. The time for action is now! Let's keep America
moving and pass H.R. 3 in the Senate.
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* * APTA is a nonprofit international
association of more than 1,500 member organizations including public transportation
systems; planning, design, construction and finance firms; product and service
providers; academic institutions, and state associations and departments of transportation.
APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical
public transportation services and products. Over ninety percent of persons using
public transportation in the United States and Canada are served by APTA members.
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